The Drivers

Tet in Seattle was interesting to say the least.  We started the weekend with a high fever (Miles), followed by projectile vomiting (also Miles)…TWICE.  Once he threw up at Costco (eeek) and the second time at my favorite bakery (YIKES).  I don’t think I will ever be able to show my face again at the bakery.  We grossed out the waiters and others sitting around us.  A couple of people were so nice and ran to get paper towel.  The bus gal quickly came over to clean up the mess.  All I could do was keep Miles from screaming and getting barf all over me and Lila.  Anyway, despite the high fever and the barf, Tet was low-key this year.  We mainly stayed at my parents house just eating tons of sweets and yummy Vietnamese food (well, Lila and I did all the eating while Miles ate mostly air and water).  We didn’t go to any Tet activities because, again, Miles was sick, and I just didn’t want to deal with the crowd.  Here are some photos of the kids opening up their lucky money packets.

Since Miles’ arrival, Kona has gone from being the only child in the family to just the dog in the family.  Poor Kona, she is sorely neglected.  She doesn’t get her regular walks.  Most of the time we just open the back door to let her run around…by herself.    Recently, we took some photos of Kona so that she felt like she was still part of the family.  We often forget what a great dog she is.  She is incredibly sweet and friendly, and very loyal.  Lately, Miles and Kona have become best friends.  They chase each other around the house and Miles exclaims that ”Konut essited (Kona’s excited)!”

Tet is the word for New Years in Vietnamese.  As we say goodbye to the year of the Rat (Lila and Ba Ngoai [maternal grandma] are both Rats), we say hello to the year of the Ox.  Tet this year takes place the weekend of the 25th of January.  We will surely visit the grandparents in Seattle.  It is customary that Vietnamese children return home to visit their elders.   

Tet is a very special time of the year for children and adults in Vietnam.  Children wear bright and beuatiful handmade silk outfits.  During this time of year, adults prepare dozens of sweet treats for children and their guests.  Friends visit each other and pay their respect, and wish one another good fortune, wealth, good health and happiness.  Children bring adults sweet treats, while adults give children a few dollars in a lucky money red packet.  The children usually use the money to buy fireworks to light off on the stroke of midnight. 

Miles and momma prepared for the celebration.  Today we went to chinatown to purchase some laterns to hang around the house.

Lately, Lila has had a burst in her developmental milestones.  At 7 1/2 months old, she is crawling, pulling up to a standing position and cruising.  I put her down for a nap today, and this is what I saw when I spied on her!  This is the first time she pulled up to a stand. 

Here is another photo of Lila’s “stink face.”